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Despite all the pain and discomfort, irritable bowel syndrome, or IBS, isn't a disease. Rather, it's a group of symptoms caused by very sensitive nerves inside your bowel reacting to muscular contractions called peristalsis. These contractions push digested food through your system. Because IBS is caused by movement, it is also called a motility disorder.

IBS does not cause damage to your digestive system — that's the good news. But it can still cause pain and cramps, along with its signature bloating, constipation, and diarrhea. Laurel Samuels is a 27-year-old mom who lives and works in Salt Lake City, Utah. She began having symptoms of IBS after giving birth to her first child three years ago.

“It started very suddenly about six months after I gave birth to my son. I went from being completely healthy to being in the worst pain of my life. It felt like a knife in my side. I wished could just pull it out," said Laurel. "It was a battle to get out of bed, let alone go to work and play with my son. I was miserable and feeling hopeless. I spent thousands of dollars on countless tests, seeing numerous doctors and specialists, fearing the worst. Then after several months, I was diagnosed with IBS.”

The Mystery of IBS

“We don’t know the exact cause of IBS, but some recent studies suggest it is related to changes in the bacteria that live inside the bowel, called the microbiome. IBS sometimes starts after a bowel infection or stress,” said Gina Sam, MD, director of the Mount Sinai Gastrointestinal Motility Center and assistant professor of medicine at Icahn School of Medicine in New York City.

The bacteria of your microbiome outnumber all the other cells in your body by 10 to 1. While they help you digest food, they also produce chemicals that can travel to your brain, called neurochemicals. Neurochemicals produced in your brain can also travel to your bowel and affect the nerves of your digestive system. In fact, your bowel has more than 100 million nerve cells along its inner surface.

“The cause of IBS pain is probably due to the similarity of nerves in the brain and the bowel. I tell my patients that the digestive system is like a second brain,” said Dr. Sam.

Visceral hypersensitivity is the name that doctors give the pain of IBS. A 2011 Current Gastroenterology Reports review of IBS pain noted that up to 90 percent of people with IBS have this hypersensitivity. The researchers also noted growing evidence that suggests psychological factors and changes in bowel bacteria as triggers for IBS pain.

IBS Pain and Other Conditions

Hypersensitivity to pain in IBS may be linked to other painful or stressful conditions. These conditions may be more common with IBS and may trigger symptoms or make them worse. “I commonly see IBS in patients who struggle with depression or post-traumatic stress disorder,” said Sam. Other conditions that have been linked to IBS include:

Chronic fatigue

Pelvic pain syndrome

Chronic prostatitis in men

Dysmenorrhea in women

TMJ (temperomandibular joint disorder)

Depression and anxiety disorders

“I do have more severe cramping prior to my period than I used to and was originally struggling with extreme pain and fatigue. I have had a life-long battle with depression, but never had any other major illnesses or diseases,” said Laurel.

Coping With IBS Pain

“There are many ways to manage IBS. Most people will get better with diet changes. Some people may respond to medications for anxiety or depression. A low carbohydrate diet called the FODMAP elimination diet may be used to eliminate carbohydrate foods that cause IBS symptoms,” said Sam.

“I tried diet modifications that didn't work and more medications than I knew existed. I finally spoke with a friend who worked with nutrition. He suggested that I try a full spectrum of daily vitamins, minerals, probiotic, and protein. I was hesitant, yet hopeful. Two weeks later, I felt amazing. My stomach didn't hurt anymore and I wasn't nauseous. I became regular and I had the energy to play with my son again,” said Laurel.

Probiotics are healthy bacteria that may replace the bacteria triggering IBS symptoms. Probiotics can be taken as a dietary supplement and are also found in yogurt cultures. In a study reported in American Family Physician, 122 people with IBS pain were given either probiotics or a placebo. After four weeks, 21 percent of the placebo group had less IBS pain compared to 57 percent of the probiotic group.

“I also try to eat as many whole, unprocessed foods as possible, limit my fat and sweet intake, and drink lots of water. Stress can occasionally be a trigger. For me, the stress is best managed by exercise. I am currently mostly symptom-free. If for some reason I do become inconsistent with my nutrition program, my body unashamedly reminds me of the IBS with stomach pain, nausea, or irregularity,” said Laurel.

Having a Good Support System

Laurel has a tight-knit, extended family that gives her lots of support. She also participates in an IBS self-help and support group. “It's fun, exciting, and inspiring to see how many people join together to offer advice, help, and comfort to one another on the forum,” said Laurel. If you are struggling with IBS pain or other symptoms, check out the IBS Self Help and Support Group.